Collapsible table unit



H. L. LA FETRA COLLAPSIBLE TABLE UNIT Filed June 5, 1937 24' 124 1.: -as 38 J 2 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG.6

HARRY LLAFETRA.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY COLLAPSIBLE TABLE UNIT Filed June 5, 1957 .3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. HARRY L.LAFETRA BY I f 'f a m fima ATTORNEY H. L. LA FETRA 2,103,33Q v 28, 1937. H. L. LA FETRA 2,103,330

COLLAPSIBLE TABLE UNIT Filed June 5, 1937 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 5G,. v H I F5642 7 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 28, 1937 UNITED STATES COLLAPSIBLE TABLE'UNIT 7 Harry L. La Fetra, New York N. Y. Application June 5, 1937, Serial No. 146,529 4 Claims. 01. 311-80) 2 "I It has for an object the provision of a unit of this nature which may readily be collapsed to compact proportions for convenient storage when not in use, thus rendering the same particularly suitable where space is limited.

The invention has for an object, also, the provision of a table unit which may readily be set up for use; and, as well as when collapsed, have its movable parts firmly anchored.

Another object of the invention resides in the provision of means for releasing the various parts to enable the table to be collapsed when desired.

In carrying out the invention, four supporting legs are provided for a table top, two of the legs, and constituting a fixed pair of legs, being car- 20 ried by a sub-table top element and the other two legs, constituting a swingable pair of legs,

being hingedly secured respectively to said subtable top through intermediate portions which,

together with the said swingable legs, may be swung under the sub-table top element when the table is to be collapsed. When the said swingable legs are positioned by swinging outwardly their carrying portions, they will, together with the fixed pair of legs, afford a support for the table top proper, which is arranged to be drawn upwardly from a normal vertical position in front of the sub-table top element and then swung thereover to rest upon the swingable pair of legs as well as said sub-table top element for support thereby in a horizontal position.

For collapsing the table, the operation is reversed, the structure then being substantially only of the width of 'said sub-table top plus the thickness of the table top proper; and, if placed 40 with the latter forward against a wall, all of the mechanism will be hidden thereby and the unit will present a neat and pleasing appearance.

Provision is made, also, to hold the table top proper in locked position when the table is set up be understood when described in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a plan of the table in open position,

with central panel removed.

bysuitably securing the swingable legs, as-by Fig. 2 is a side rear view. l

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the table unit in collapsed condition. r

Fig. 5 is aside elevation thereof, and Fig. 6 a rear elevation. l

Fig. 7 is an isometric projection of the table unit, and illustratesalso the" manner of settin up saidunit. V Fig. 8 is a fragmentary view, on an enlarged scale, and partly in vertical section, illustrating the manner of hingedly and slidably attaching the table top proper tothe sub-table top element; and Fig. 9 is a similar view illustrating the table top proper swung over the sub-table top element to assume a horizontal position. Fig. 10 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken on the line Ill-l0, Fig.8 of the drawings.-

view thereof, and Fig. 3 a

are NT oFFic-E Figs. 11 and 12 are fragmentary planand uh- I derneath views, respectively, illustrating the table top locking and release mechanism.

Figs."-13 and '14 are fragmentary underneath views illustrating the manner of fswingably securing the swingable pair of legs to the sub-table top element; r

.Fig. 15 is a transverse section taken'on the line i5l5, Fig. 14 of the drawings.

, Referring to the drawings, 20 designates a table top having a central panel 2|, if preferred, and which may be of any suitable material affording the desired finish. The top 20 is carried by a, sub-table top member 22 which is supported by a pair of fixed legs 23 and a pair of swingable legs 24, the latter being hingedly attached-to said member 22 and designed to be swung inwardly, thereunder when the table is not in use. This swingable pair of legs is hinged tothe under side of the sub-table top 22 through intermediate portions 24 which are fixed at their outer ends to r the said legs and extend at right angles thereto. The inner ends of the portions 24 are attached preferably through pairs of hinges 25 and 26, as indicated more particularly in Figs. 13 to 1 5, to the sub-table top. One leaf of the hinge 25 is attached to the under surface of a member 24 and includes a projecting pin member 21 located be yond the pintle 28 of the hinge, said pin member, being adapted to fit into ainotch 29 of the other leaf of thehinge when the member 24 is swung outwardly to a position to support the table top,

as indicated in Fig. 7 of the drawings and as is hereinafter set forth. The other hinge member '26 is secured along the side of member 24, and

the pintle 28' of the said hinge member 26 lies in the axis of pintle 28.

When said portions 24' are extended or brought outwardly to the positions indicated in Fig. 7 of the drawings, and substantially at right angles to their positions when located beneath the subtable top 22, legs 24 will be displaced suificiently from said sub-table top to afiord an adequate support, together with the fixed pair of legs 23, for the table top proper 20.

When not in use, as hereinbefore noted, said swingable pair of legs will be swung inwardly (as indicated by the arrows, Fig. 7) and positioned beneath sub-table top 22; and a block 30 attached to its under side serves as a stop, through contact with the portions 24', to limit their inward movement. In addition, tongues 3| attached to the under side of the block'extend out-- wardly therefrom to afford resilient holding members in receiving the. portions 24 which ride between the same and the under side of the subtable top 22. By this expedient, said portions with the attached swingablelegs will be securely positioned beneath said sub-table top when the table is ,not in use and there will be no tendency to dislodge the same as in moving the table about. To further insure their position, spring catches 3| may be provided on the respective portions to engage suitable keepers 3|" on the sub-table top. :When the table is to be put in use, provision is made for swinging the top 20over said sub-table top 22 and supporting the same thereon as well as upon the pair of swingable legs 24, or rather upon the portions 24' thereof. Top 20 is mounted to this end to'be positioned, when the table is not in use, in front of the sub-table top 22 and to drop substantially to the floor in front of same to provide a screen for the various members constituting the table so that the unit will not present an ob' jectionable appearance when not set up for use.

When it is desired to place the table in service, said top 29 is designed to slide vertically relatively to the sub-table top, as through a pair of rods 32 extending vertically over the under side of the top 20 and passing through corresponding sleeves 33 hinged along the outer edge of the sub-table top 22. Thus, by raising said top until the bottom of a rod contacts the shoulder 34 of said sleeve, said top will pick up the hinged sleeves and may be swung (as indicated by the arrows, Fig. 7) about the hinge over the sub-table top, Fig. 9, to rest also upon the portions 24' and be supported thereby.

In order convenientlyv to drawthis top 20 upwardly, there is provided a transverse rod 35 carried byblocks 36 attached to the under side of said top at the opposite sides of its upper portion and above the sub-table top portion. These blocks are of a thickness to serve as fillers or leveling means in contacting with the portions 24 when the top is drawn over.

In addition, the blocks carry means for temporarily and resiliently holding the top 20, when drawn over into horizontal position, to the respective swingable legs 24. This is effected by means of a spring tongue 31 extending from a block 36 and having an upturned support 38 for the corresponding end of the rod 35. The under side of tongue 31 is provided with a downwardly turned lip or spur 39, Fig. 12, designed to enter a recess or a notch 40 of a leg 24, snapping therein. When the top is to be released, the rod 35 is lifted slightly to unlatch the lips from said recesses and the table is then swung to a vertical position and dropped down in front of the subtable top 22.

I claim:

1. A collapsible table unit, comprising a subtable top element and a pair of legs fixed thereto, a pair of swingable legs including respective portions hinged to the sub-table top element to swing thereunder when the table is not in use and to be swung outwardly to position the legs, a table top pivotally and slidably attached to the sub-table top element and adapted to be swung thereover for support thereon and upon the positioned swingable pair of legs and to be dropped in front of the outer edge of said sub-table top element in collapsing the table unit, and leveling means attached to the under side of the table top to rest upon the hinged portions of the swingable pair of legs when said top is brought thereover, together with means pivotally carried by the leveling means to lock the table top to said swingable pair of legs.

2. A collapsible table unit, comprising a subtable top element and a pair of legs fixed thereto, a pair of swingable legs including respective portions hinged to the sub-table top element to swing thereunder when the table is not in use and to be swung outwardly to position the legs, a table top, a pair of rods secured to the under side thereof, and a pair of sleeves hingedly secured to the sub-table top through which the corresponding rods pass, whereby said top may be swung over for support upon the sub-table top and the positioned swingable pair of legs and to be dropped in front of the outer edge of said sub-table top element in collapsing the table unit.

3. A collapsible table unit, comprising a subtable top element and a pair of legs fixed thereto, a pair of swingable legs including respective portions hinged to the sub-table top element to swing thereunder when the table is not in use and to be swung outwardly to position the legs, a table top pivotally and slidably attached to the sub-table top element and adapted to be swung thereover for support thereon and upon the positioned swingable pair of legs and to be dropped in front of the outer edge of said sub-table top element in collapsing the table unit, means carried by the under side of the table top for engaging the swingable pair of legs to lock said top thereto when brought over said legs, and further means carried by the under side of said top to release the locking means.

4. A collapsible table unit, comprising a subtable top element and a pair of legs fixed thereto, a pair of swingable legs including respective portions hinged to the sub-table top element to swing thereunder when the table is not in use and to be swung outwardly to position the legs, a table top pivotally and slidably attached to the subtable top element and adapted to be swung thereover for support thereon and upon the positioned swingable pair of legs and to be dropped in front of the outer edge of said sub-table top element in collapsing the table unit, a rod pivotally carried by the under side of the table top, and means attached thereto to lock said table top to said swingable pair of legs.

HARRY L. LA FETRA. 

